SS Chapter 32: Individualizing the Generic

TL: FoodieMonster007

The title track made a fresh impression with its cheerful instrumental. A simple kick pattern with a clear accent supported only the essential instruments. Each session stood out distinctly within the spacious arrangement.

『I like that my wish is a dream from my younger days. When I grow tired and close my eyes, it reappears in the dark sky』

The clean vocals suited the song's flow, which neatly stacked like colorful blocks. It did not rise and fall sharply like a roller coaster. Instead, it gently guided the listener toward the climax.

The progression calmly stirred emotions before bursting out in the chorus. It was satisfying enough even without any ear-piercing high notes.

The music video also looked simple at first. The hairstyling and makeup were not overdone. His features were gorgeous even without embellishments, but his unique sense of calm stood out more. It was not boring, nor was it tacky. That was the most important point.

The uncomplicated composition and calm melody recalled a traditional ballad, but the song overwhelmed with emotion more than any lyrical sentiment. A faint, persistent nostalgia lingered beneath the sophisticated singing style. This came from the characteristics of the soft rock genre.

『When I, lost, stand blankly and turn my head, it shines clearly, constantly pulling me in, making my heart race…』

At first listen, the tone was so refined that one might not even think it was rock. It was called rock, but even within the same genre, the characteristics varied greatly depending on the subgenre. This meant that some music had such blurred boundaries that you couldn't identify the genre without an explanation.

It had the atmosphere of sunlight felt faintly through clouds on a winter afternoon, not the blazing sun of midsummer. An acoustic band sound was calmly laid over a melody that felt like a cool breeze blowing from somewhere, even with the sun out. I also thought it sounded like J-Pop or an anime opening.

At first, I thought he would naturally release a ballad. Jeong Seongbin's strengths were his unique sensitivity and deep appeal. These abilities shone brightest on a ballad stage. It was not for nothing that Jeong Seongbin had brought songs with a sentimental, autumn evening vibe to various stages, including 'Genre-Swap'.

But that guy had twisted the genre in a very subtle and clever way. While holding onto his strengths, he completely avoided the love songs and breakup songs that were starting to be criticized as 'not trendy'.

If I had to pick out the excellent elements, I could choose several. The most outstanding among them was his delicate technique.

When handling intense choreography or unwavering high notes, solid stability was emphasized over elaborate skill. This was why power-vocalist main vocals were popular in the idol market.

Jeong Seongbin was a different breed. He could produce solid high notes at will, but Jeong Seongbin's true value was revealed when the instrumental did not interfere with his voice. It was no wonder fans deliberately searched for videos of him singing short clips without MR.

The solo title track maximized this sophistication. Thanks to the clean AR, his good vocal tone came to the forefront and led the song. The finishing of his notes and his restrained vibrato boasted an unparalleled level of skill.

He didn't just push for a ballad. The style was also completely different from the band songs that spArk usually promoted. He brought a genre that was his specialty, yet one he had never shown through content before, and one that no one in spArk could pull off as well as him. Both the company and I were completely blindsided by Jeong Seongbin.

『I remember the wind of that day, which lifts me up so I can't collapse』

None of us had waited for so long without a promise as Jeong Seongbin had. Everyone experiences failure, but enduring for a long time without any experience of success was by no means easy. Jeong Seongbin told such a story. These lyrics, too, were most persuasive when that guy sang them.

Simplicity has a hard time surviving in the market. There was a reason people sought out more intense music and concepts. It was about choosing a slightly safer path.

『When morning comes, I'll be able to get up and run, waking from a long sleep as if I had never stopped』

However, when you encounter a piece of life or a longing in an unexpected place, your heart resonates on an incomparably deep level. There was a kind of moving emotion in the world that only those who pushed forward with their convictions could provide.

Jeong Seongbin deliberately chose a path that was a bit of a detour. In its place, he held a map with a clearly marked destination.

He left after making full preparations. Setting out with a goal of what result to create is not an adventure, it is a conquest. I could tell just by his song choice that the guy had started this journey with that much conviction.

『It's okay if my wish doesn't seem distant. It will shine so brightly I can't forget it, like a star in the long night』

Jeong Seongbin on the screen suited the low-saturation sky. The welcome feeling from the rhythm and sessions that were popular long ago mixed with a freshness I hadn't felt on recent music sites. A song that could appeal to all generations often changed the trend of the charts. Jeong Seongbin's song had that much potential. After all, the lyrics about the turbulence of life that everyone experiences, and the heart that still hopes despite it all, would resonate with everyone.

The music video ended. The screen switched to Jeong Seongbin, smiling brightly in the studio.

What a praiseworthy kid. A smart and capable kid!

I was so proud. As expected, our leader is the best.

Right after the music video and song were released, I called Jeong Seongbin. I gave him a long speech about how amazing his song was. If the Sparkler fans had not been watching, I would have easily praised him for two hours. I struggled to hold onto my reason and hung up before people could say, 'Kim Iwol is taking up too much audio time'.

Park Joowoo was no different from me. The guy was genuinely shocked in a positive way by Jeong Seongbin's move. The fact that Jeong Seongbin had broken the formula of 'Rock is Park Joowoo, Ballad is Jeong Seongbin' pushed Park Joowoo's excitement to its peak.

"Hyung, did you expect Seongbin to make a choice like this?"

"Not at all."

Park Joowoo's eyes flashed. They did not twinkle, they flashed. It was the first time I had ever seen what looked like fire sparking from someone's eyes.

"Amazing… Truly amazing."

The guy kept marveling at his friend. His trembling voice held a near-maniacal excitement that his gentle nature rarely showed.

This is… a little creepy.

Jeong Seongbin and Park Joowoo were the best of friends and the team's vocalists. They were the same age and were main vocalists with different styles, but they had never given off the impression of being in competition. It was more like they respected each other's domains and carved out their own paths.

This time was a little different. He was not being wary, but it was also different from his usual attitude of cheering on anything his friend did.

It felt insufficient to call it a friendly competition. What should I call this kind of relationship? Partners on parallel lines, running forward together without touching and with different exact destinations?

Park Joowoo and I, who wanted to praise Jeong Seongbin right away, were fidgeting impatiently throughout the live broadcast. Unable to watch any longer, Choi Jeho contacted the manager. We received permission to go to the company and, under the guidance of Manager Daeyeon who even came to pick us up, we moved to the practice room to wait for Jeong Seongbin.

After finishing the live broadcast, Jeong Seongbin came down, completely exhausted. When I opened my arms, he trudged over like a limp piece of seaweed and fell into my embrace.

"Whose main vocal is this amazing?"

"It's so late, why did you come all the way to the company…!"

"You're right. We should've come earlier before it got late."

Jeong Seongbin responded with a forced smile. It was the face of someone who had instinctively realized that this conversation would go nowhere. I also gave him a gentle smile.

We all shared the cake the company had prepared for the live broadcast to celebrate his solo debut. The man of the hour, Jeong Seongbin, could only eat a little since he was just about to start promotions. As a form of consolation, I took a hundred pictures of him from above and a hundred from the side as he held the cake with his eyes closed.

From the next day, Jeong Seongbin was running all over the place. We were busy in our own way too. We had prepared a reverse-support event in spArk's name for his first music show. I made the X-banner and placard, and Park Joowoo arranged for the vehicle. The youngest members wracked their brains to decide on the menu.

We did not ask Choi Jeho to do anything, afraid he might order sparkling water, but then, the guy started acting like a filial son all on his own. He played on his phone by himself for a bit, then uploaded a ton of Jeong Seongbin's pictures to the fan cafe!

"You, when did you do something so praiseworthy?!"

The combination of Jeong Seongbin, who was docile in front of his hyungs, and Choi Jeho's delicate touch on the camera button, which I didn't want to admit, created a work of art. The Jeong Seongbin I photographed was idol spArk Seongbin who had come for a photoshoot, but the Jeong Seongbin in Choi Jeho's gallery was the flawless, pure, refreshing, autumn-morning-type man, Jeong Seongbin. It was clear discrimination against his hyungs.

"Show me your gallery."

"You want me to share?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

Choi Jeho was also a member of spArk who had undergone harsh photo-uploading training, so he had never been lazy about taking and posting selfies. However, there were even more jewel-like photos that he hadn't had the chance to release to the world. If our leader hadn't been in the middle of his solo activities, I would have been screaming all day in the dorm.

Fortunately, the members' support did not backfire. The captain of spArk sailed smoothly without any mishaps.

≫ He made it! He made it, I tell you!

[X He made what?]

└Seongbin made his solo debut, I tell you. Get off the internet for a bit.

Ah

≫ Is it possible to feel nostalgic for an era before I was born?

I feel like I just visited that time for a moment.

└ Don't you remember? We were at the beach for our MT, playing acoustic guitar at night, watching the bonfire, and singing.

└Just how far did you go? LOL

≫ Remember the wind that lifts me up?

Anyone know the title of this song?

It's used often as BGM in drama clip compilations lately. The voice is familiar, so I'm just writing the lyrics as I remember them, they might not be exact.

└Seongbin - Anthem of Hope

└If you've heard 'First Step', it'll sound familiar. ㅇㅇ

≫ The male idol who made his solo debut with a short film-quality MV

Following the center who debuted as the male lead of a late-autumn-vibe MV, the leader debuted as the male lead of an early-summer-dawn-vibe MV.

└Jeong Seongbin riding a bicycle has a certain vibe

└If CJH is the breakup guy, JSB is the first love guy, but with CJH it feels like I died, and with JSB it feels like he died.

└To be, or not to be, that is the question.

└LOLOLOLOLOL

≫ A song of praise played in response to those who ask, "What do you believe in to be so hopeful?"

.

.

.

The things that bind me exist invisibly. The gazes and reactions of others can make a person collapse. Because of this, individuals sometimes lose their way.

Seongbin's 『Anthem of Hope』 asks in return, why must we not have hope? It answers the cynical society, 'There is no reason not to stand up.' It gladly accepts closing one's tired eyes, for it is a dream that can only be seen with them closed. We have heard a similar expression before. 'The hour is darkest just before the dawn.'

It doesn't strive to be provocative or follow trends. That is the meaning of creating one's own pace in a world that rushes ahead. There is nothing to add or subtract, yet many seek it. Because everyone was thinking the same thing. (Omitted)

≫ The message on the coffee truck the members sent to Seongbin

"The reason we don't have to cry even when night comes is because the stars are still twinkling and we have the strength to lift our heads. We're cheering for you who runs endlessly."

└I saw it on site and teared up. No one loves spArk more than spArk themselves…

└Kim Iwol has 200 wins out of 200 matches, and Sparkler has all the losses. I admit it. Please stop making it so hard for us.

≫ How well must our Seongbin have treated the members for them to mention his solo debut everywhere?

A well-raised member is better than ten marketers.

└The funniest part is Kim Iwol being upset that he couldn't generate as much buzz as Choi Jeho. Sir, you're an idol too.

└But Iwol-ah, what can you do? Jeho just took such good pictures of Seongbin.

There was no room for division over a solo debut. When the members of spArk themselves were throwing the biggest party, who could publicly curse out the company for supposedly pushing only one specific individual?

Negative opinions could emerge from unseen places, but there are certainly areas in the world that cannot be controlled. They say you cannot even stop people from cursing the king, so controlling something like that is impossible.

The important thing was that the public opinion had to be positive, and Jeong Seongbin easily gained the upper hand. On top of that, the content we had prepared in advance came flooding in.